This week we emphasize the importance of recognizing, using, and building upon your strengths in training and beyond. “Use your strengths to build new strengths.”

Personal Goal - Training 2-3x/week while maintaining a strength/cardio workout program 6 days/week. Hydrate - 1 gallon of water/day. Sleep - 7 hours minimum. Eat - clean, and cut out fast food/soda. 

Coaching Goal - pumped to be part of the team developing the new kid's striking program and looking forward to developing it from a foundational/practical street defense base to advanced competitive/pro-level system. More than that, excited to develop kids that are not just black belts in the art, but black belts at life. 

ROL Kids - Top Control Escape - Drag Over – 1. Hand in Place (Mount); 2. Frame Hip and Get to Side; 3. Trap the Foot and Drag; 4. Hip Escape and Re-Guard

ROL Kids - Arm Lock from Top Control – 1. Hands in Place (Mount – choose arm); 2. Hug the Arm; 3. Step Over and Sit; 4. Pinch and Fall Back

MAT CHAT - SHARING JIUJITSU

“Grow together, stronger together.”

This week we emphasize the importance of sharing knowledge and supporting each other in Jiu Jitsu, showing that by helping one another, everyone becomes stronger.

Kids Striking - Week 5: Combining Hand and Leg Strikes

Focus: Learning to combine punches and kicks smoothly.

Skills:

Straight punch → front kick combination.

Palm strike → step-back kick.

Drill: Pad drills—students practice combinations while maintaining balance and control.

Key Message: “Move, strike, and stay in control.”

My big "Aha" was when I figured out Jiu Jitsu is a technique game and not about brute force or strength. It finally hit me during an injury when I wasnt able to use my strength - I was forced to depend on good technique. 

Kids Striking - 12/30/24-1/5/25

Front Kicks (Teep/Ball of Foot & Rising)

Focus: Using powerful, long-range front kicks for defense.

Skills:

Front kick with the ball of the foot (precision).

Rising front kick (shin/instep contact).

Drill: Reaction drill—students strike a pad held at varying heights.

Key Message: “Strong kicks keep danger away.”

This weeks Mat Chats are all about "Trust": 

Key Message About Trust:

Trust is earned through actions, honesty, and respect.

Trusting yourself is the first step to achieving your goals.

Building trust with others makes us stronger as a team and as individuals.

These mat chats encourage students to think about trust in multiple dimensions, fostering stronger relationships and self-confidence.

"Position before submission." Life, like Jiu Jitsu, isn’t won by brute force—it’s won by strategy, patience, and control. When things feel overwhelming, I remember to get to the right "position" first. Control the chaos - especially in my mind. Then, and only then, make the move.